Ransomware remains a significant challenge for organizations across the globe, with its complexity and frequency only intensifying. Reports indicate that not even the children of top executives are immune, as attackers exploit every possible leverage to extort large ransoms. Despite successful operations like “Operation Endgame” and “Operation Duck Hunt” against notorious ransomware syndicates, these groups have demonstrated remarkable resilience by reassembling and intensifying their assaults promptly.
The latest findings from the Zscaler ThreatLabz team have been documented in their 2024 Ransomware Report. This research delved into 4.4 million thwarted ransomware attacks seen by Zscaler’s cloud systems, showing a 17.8% increase compared to the previous year. The analysis included a detailed review of ransomware strains and attack methodologies, unveiling critical insights about primary victims, the deadliest ransomware families, and ransomware perpetrators’ shifting strategies and demands. Notably, the report discloses an unprecedented ransom payment that reached a staggering USD$75 million.
To gain a deeper understanding of the current ransomware threat and to reinforce your organization’s defensive measures against these relentless attacks, consider downloading the Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 Ransomware Report.
The team at ThreatLabz continuously monitors ransomware developments to pinpoint and decode the progression of these menacing threats. Below is a glimpse into some principal patterns and highlighted targets identified in their investigations.
The number of extorted companies, based on insights from malicious data leak sites, increased by 57.8% from last year, even in the face of significant law enforcement actions including arrests, indictments, and shutdowns of infrastructure. The analysis provides a summary of the major law enforcement initiatives targeting ransomware syndicates and initial access brokers across the previous year.
Voice-based social engineering is becoming increasingly used for network breaches, popularized by entities like Scattered Spider and the Qakbot threat group.
Exploiting vulnerabilities remains a common method for deploying ransomware, highlighting the urgent necessity for practices such as timely software updates and comprehensive vulnerability management, bolstered by zero trust principles.
Sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, and technology led in ransomware attack incidences from April 2023 to April 2024. In the same period, the energy sector saw a 527.27% surge in attacks compared to the previous year.
5. The United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and France were the top five countries targeted by ransomware in the same time period.
Delve into these findings and more data in the full report.
ThreatLabz identified 19 new ransomware families this year, increasing the total number tracked to 391 over the past decade, as cataloged in the ThreatLabz GitHub repository.
With new and emerging ransomware groups come new and ever-evolving methods to maximize their operational impact and financial gains. This was evidenced by the record-breaking $75 million ransom payment uncovered by ThreatLabz. The report discloses the threat group behind this unprecedented payment—also named by ThreatLabz as one of the top five ransomware families that will be a big threat to businesses in the year ahead. Learn about their strategic approach and why ThreatLabz predicts similar strategies will gain traction among other threat actors.
The report also shares comprehensive insights into the tactics, potential impacts, and recent activities of other ransomware families that ThreatLabz has identified as high-risk and noteworthy for 2024-2025.
The growing volume and cost of ransomware attacks found in this year’s report is a stark reminder that organizations must prioritize robust ransomware defenses. The https://www.zscaler.com/platform/zero-trust-exchange platform addresses this challenge by offering a holistic approach to stopping ransomware.
The Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 Ransomware Report offers crucial advice for addressing cybersecurity threats, specifically highlighting:
The report this year highlights the increasing frequency and financial impact of ransomware attacks, underscoring the necessity for businesses to enhance their defenses against these threats. The Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ platform proposes a comprehensive strategy to combat ransomware effectively.
The Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 Ransomware Report offers crucial advice for addressing cybersecurity threats, specifically highlighting:
Obtain your copy of the Zscaler ThreatLabz 2024 Ransomware Report today. With the ongoing risks posed by ransomware, understanding the latest trends and assessing their potential implications can equip your organization with the knowledge needed to safeguard itself against these attacks in the upcoming years.
